Rob Hall (soprano/tenor saxophones)
Chris Greive (trombone)
Mike Dunning (acoustic bass)
Paul Mills (drums)
The Freewheelers first came together for the 2001 Lochwinnoch Festival-on-the-Water in Scotland. The band consists an Australian, an American, a Scot and an Englishman, with the common thread that they are all based in Scotland. Engineer and New Zealander Graham Kennedy completes the international set. This debut recording from the band represents a concentrated effort to develop fresh approaches to material they were working with thanks to the existence of a research department at the RSAMD dedicated to performance-based innovation.
"... don't expect any young fogeyisms. Freedom Jazz Dance is anchored by a volcanic funk beat and the frontline can't seem to get their superb ideas out fast enough.... there's also a version of John Scofield's 'Softy' that knocks spots of the guitarist's own. Rob Hall's originals are highly intelligent and ooze personality..."
Philip Clark (Jazz Review)
"... it's Hall's Freewheelers that clinches his growing stature. Not only are the original compositions worth hearing , but his treatment of repertory material by Clifford Brown, John Scofield, and Steve Swallow is exacting and far form cravenly respectful."
***(*) Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD